A 26-YEAR-OLD man hanged himself in a friend's caravan after getting depressed over the breakdown of a relationship, a court was told.

An inquest heard that Simon Christopher Holmes had a history of depression, and had become "obsessive" about his failed friendship with a woman, only identified as Jackie at the hearing.

His mother, Christine Holmes, told the inquest she and her husband, Robert, had desperately tried to get their son to seek medical help, but he had failed to keep appointments.

"He still had this belief that somehow his relationship with Jackie would come back together," said Mrs Holmes.

On the day of his death, Mr Holmes, of Elswick Lodge, Mellor, went to the garden centre, in Branch Road, Lower Darwen, belonging to his friend Graham Smith.

Mr Smith said Mr Holmes often went to the garden centre and helped out. He said he noticed Mr Holmes had become more withdrawn.

Mr Smith said he asked to borrow a tow rope, but he didn't have one.

Shortly afterwards a 14-year-old boy on work experience asked Mr Smith to go to the caravan. He forced his way in and found Mr Holmes hanging by a rope and a ratchet strap from the skylight. He was taken to hospital, but never regained consciousness and died on December 22.

Leigh Walmsley, the mother of Mr Holmes' son, said he had visited on the morning of his death and played with the boy for about half-an-hour.

"He seemed fine, back to his old self, but he did have good days and bad days," said Miss Walmsley.

"He said he would see me later."

The cause of death was given as brain injury caused by hanging.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict that Mr Holmes killed himself.